Thill-tug



A. W. COOK.

(No Model.)

THILL TUG.

' No. 562 Patented June 16, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN lV. COOK, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. A.DAY, OF. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

THlLL-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,066, dated June 16,1896.

Application filed June 21, 1895.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUSTIN WV. COOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Thill- Tug, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to thill-tugs or shaft-carriers of thetype which have a pivoted section or catch to facilitate the insertionand the removal of the thill or shaft therefrom, and aims to provide atug capable of easy manipulation and which will maintain a strong andfirm joint between the body and the pivoted section or catch withoutrequiring extra or additional fastenings.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of theinvention is unfolded in the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thill-tugembodying the essence of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1, showing the pivoted section or catch open. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the tug, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation thereof.

The tug or carrier in general appearance is of the ordinary form, and isprovided at its upper end with a buckle 1 for attachment therewith ofthe back-strap pendent from the harness-saddle, and at its lower endwith a loop 2, to which is connected the girth strap when the device isin operative relation. The outer side of the tug 3 is intercepted for ashort distance midway of its ends and is provided with a pivoted sectionor catch 4,which has positive connection with one of the interceptedends and which is adapted to interlock at its opposite end with theother intercepted end. The upper end 5 is cleft or formed with a slot 6,in which is fitted the reduced end portion 7 of the pivoted section orcatch 4, and which end 7 is held within the slot 6 by means of a pivot8, passing through registering openings in the cleft end 5 and thereduced end 7, as will be readily understood. A substantially L-shapedspring 9 has one member 10 extending across the top end of the tug 3 andfitted in a groove formed therein and its side member 11 extending alongone edge of the cleft end 5 and coming flush with the outer edgethereof, and this side member 11 bears laterally against the edge of thepor Serial No. 553,606. (No model.)

tion 7 and holds the catch 4 closed, and also against the end of thesaid part .7, so as to hold the catch open, as will be readilyunderstood from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. One corner of the cleftend 5 is rounded off, as shown at 12, to facilitate the opening andclosing of the catch 4, and the cleft portions engaging with theshoulders formed at the base of the reduced part 7 limit the closing ofthe catch 4 and form a snug joint between the parts.

The lower end 13 is formed in its outer face with a transverse groove14, which is undercut on its upper wall, and which transverse grooveforms a rib 15, adapted to enter a corresponding transverse groove 16 inthe inner face of the catch 4 and in proximate relation to its free end.The transverse groove 16 has its lower wall correspondingly undercut, soas to match with the undercut wall of the transverse groove 14, and therib 17, formed by the transverse groove 16, is adapted to enter thegroove 14 and interlock therewith when the catch is closed. Thus it willbe seen that a mutually-interlocking joint is formed between the freeend of the catch 4 and the end 13, thereby providing a strong andsubstantial tug, which can be made of metal, and which will be capableof sustaining ordinary strain, and which can be made comparativelylight, so as to present aneat and graceful appearance. The catch 4 isadapted to swing laterally in the plane of and parallel with the shaftin contradistinction to swinging outwardly, as is the case with tugs ofordinary construction. By this arrangement the catch when open is not inthe way and liable to interfere with the free harnessing of the horse.

The invention is susceptible of a variety of applications. Hence in theembodiment of the same it is to be understood that changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Athill-tug having an opening in one side, and having an end adjacent tothe open ing cleft, a section for closing the said open ing fitted toand having pivotal connection at one terminal with the said cleft end,and havingits other terminal forming an interlocking joint with theother end adjacent to the said opening, and a spring secured to thecleft end and constructed to hold the pivoted section in a positivemanner either open or closed, substantially as described.

2. A thill-tug having an opening in a side, and having one end adjacentto the said opening cleft and grooved in an edge and top, a section forclosing the opening having a terminal portion reduced, forming ashoulder and pivoted Within the cleft end, and having its other terminalportion forming an interlocking joint with the opposite end adjacent tothe aforesaid opening, and aspring secured in the top groove of thecleft end and having a portion operating in the edge groove thereof andadapted to bear against the edge and the end of the pivoted section topositively hold the latter either open or closed, substantially asdescribed.

3. An improved article of manufacture, a thill-tug havingabuckle at itsupper end and a loop at its lower end, and formed with an opening in oneside, the upper end adjacent to the opening being cleft and having agroove in its top and one edge, a section having a terminal portionreduced, forming shoulders to engage with the said. cleft end and comeflush with the sides thereof, and having the reduced terminal portionpivoted Within the cleft end, and having an interlocking joint formedbetween the free end of the pivoted section and the opposite endadjacent to the aforesaid opening, and a substantially L shaped springhaving one portion secured in the top groove of the cleft end, andhaving the other portion adapted to engage with an edge and end of thepivoted section to hold the latter positively in either an open or aclosed position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN W. 000K. lVitncsses:

M. .T. Asnnonn, ll. SLuoNos

